Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
,.:a,' Docket 7406
_1_
FIREFIGHTER'S COAT HAVING WATERGUARD CUFF
Bar_karound of The Invention
A firefighter's protective gear conventionally
includes a firefighter°s coat or jacket and a pair of
firefighter's gloves. The firefighter's gloves cover
the firefighter's hands and are positioned adjacent the
ends of the sleeves of the firefighter's coat or jacket:
The firefighter's gloves must be readily removable.
Therefore, conventionally, the gloves do not extend
over the sleeves of the firefighter's coat. Also, due
to the fact that the gloves must be readily removable,
the firefighter's gloves are not attached to the ends
of the sleeves of the firefighter's coat.
As the firefighter is active in firefighting,
gaps or spaces occur between the ends of the sleeves
of the firefighter's coat and the firefighter's gloves.
Therefore, water and debris can enter into the firefighter's
gloves through the space between the ends of the sleeves
of the firefighter's coat and the firefighter's gloves.
Of course, water and/o.r debris within the firefighter°s
gloves presents an objectionable condition.
It is therefore an object of this invention
t o provide protective means which prevent entry of water
and/or debris into the gloves of a firefighter as the
firefighter wears a conventional firefighter's coat and
conventional firefighter°s gloves.
w°, Docket 706
-2-
It is another object of this invention to pro-
vide such protective means which can be readily attached
to the sleeves of a firefighter's coat and which pro-
tective means are adjustable with respect to the sleeves
of the firefigh'ter's coat.
It is another object of this invention to pro-
vide such protective means which conforms to the curvature
of the sleeves of the firefighter's coat.
It is another object of this invention to pro-
vide such protective means which can be constructed of
firefighting protective material.
It is another object of this invention to pro-
vide such protective means which does not interfere with
the firefighting activity of a firefighter who wears
a firefighter's coat which includes the protective means.
It is another object of this invention to pro-
vide such protective means which can be produced at
relatively low costs.
Other objects and advantages of this invention
reside in the construction of the protective means,
the attachment thereof, the method of production, and
the mode of use, as will become more apparent from the
following description.
_Summary of The Invention
This invention comprises protective means which
are attachable to the sleeves of a firefighter's conven-
tional coat and which protective means prevent entry
of water and/or debris into conventional gloves worn
by the firefighter adjacent the sleeves during firsfight-
ing activity.
The protective means comprise a shield member
which is attached to t he sleeve of the firefighter's
coat adjacent the end portion of the sleeve. The shield
member extends from the sleeve and includes moisture
protective material. The shield member may also include
thermal protective material. The shield member has a
Docket 7406
-3-
slight degree of rigidity but is capable of conforming
to the shape of the portion of the sleeve of the fire-
fighte r s coat to which the shield member is attached.
Preferably, the shield member is removably r
and adjustably attached to the sleeve of the firefighter's
coat. Thus, the shield member can be readily attached
and detached from the sleeve. Also, the shield member
can be adjusted angularly and longitudinally in its
position with respect to the sleeve of the firefighter's
coat.
Any suitable method of attachment of. the shield
member to the sleeve of the firefighter°s coat may be
used. For example, hook and pile attachment means may
be used. Also, for example, pressure or snap types of
attachment means may be used. In some situations the
shield member may be permanently secured to the end
portion of the sleeve of the firefighter's coat or the
shield member may be an integral part of a sleeve of
the firefighter's coat.
Brief Description of The Views of The Drawian s
FIG. 1 is a front elevationa:L view of a fire-
fighter's coat which includes protective shield members
of this invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational
view showing a portion of the sleeve of a conventional
firefighter's coat and a firefighter's conventional
glove associated therewith.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational
view, similar to FIG. 2, showing the sleeve portion of
the firefighter's conventional coat and the firefighter's
conventional glove, and showing the space which frequewtly
occurs between the firefighter°s glove and the sleeve
during firefighting ac'tivi'ty. This view illustrates
the manner by which water and/or debris enters the fire-
fighter's glove during firefighting activity.
Docket 7406
4
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational
view, similar to FIG. 2, but showing a portion of the
sleeve of a firefighter's coat and showing a protective
shield of this invention as the protective shield is
supported by the sleeve of the firefighter's coat. This
view also shows a firefighter's glove protected by the
protective shield.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational
view, similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the manner by which
the protective shield of the FIGS. 1 and 4 protects
against entry of water and/or debris into the firefighter's
glove during angular positioning of the hand which is
covered by the firefighter's glove.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged end view taken substan-
tially on line 6-6 of FIG. 1, showing the protective
shield of FIGS. 1, 4, and 5.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view, similar to FIG.
6, illustrating an adjusted position of the protective
shield of FIGS. 1, 4, 5, and 6.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary exploded_perspective
view showing a portion of the sleeve of FIGS. 1, 4, 5,
6, and 7, and illustrating a preferred structure and
a preferred method by which the protective shield of
this invention is attached to the sleeve of the fire-
fighter's coat.
FIG. 9 is a plan view, drawn on substantially
the same scale as FIG. 8, showing the protective shield
of this invention.
Detailed Description of The Preferred Embodiment
FIGS. 2 and 3 show a sleeve portion 16 of a
firefighter's conventional coat and a firefighter's
conventional glove 20 associated with the sleeve por-
tion 16 of the firefigh'ter's coat.
FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the
sleeve 16 and the firefight.er's glove 20 during a period
of relative inaction of the firefighter while wearing
CA 02060146 2002-09-16
Docket 74f'
-5-
the conventional firefighter's coat which has the sleeve
portion 16 and while the firefighter wears the firefighter's
glove 20. FIG. 3 illustrates an angular position of
the firefighter's glove 20 with respect to the sleeve
16, which angular position frequently occurs during
firefighting activity of the firefighter. As illustrated
by an arrow 22 in FIG. 3, the angular relationship between
the firefighter's glove 20 and the sleeve 16 permits
entry of water and other material into the glove 20.
Of course, entry of water and other material into the
firefighter's glove 20 is objectionable.
FIG. 1 shows a firefighter's coat 24 which
includes sleeves 26. A firefighter's g1_ove 20 covers
the hand and wrist of the firefighter adjacent each sleeve
26. Each of the sleeves 26 includes a iorotE~cti.ve shield
30 of this invention. The firefighter's coat 24 comprises
firefighting protective material which convE=ntionally
includes flame resistant, moisture resistant and thermal
protective material. The protective shield 30 comprises
moisture resistant material and may also include thermal
resistant material and other firefighting protective
materials.
As shown in FIG. 9, the protective shield 30
has a length L and a width W. As best shown in FIGS.
6, 7, and $, the length L of the protective shield 30
is preferably equal to about one-half the circumference
of the sleeve 26. However, the length of the shield
may be greater than or less than one-half the circum-
ference of the sleeve 26. As Y>est shown in FIGS. 4 and
30 5, the shield 30 is attached to the upper portion of
the sleeve 26 and extends over a portion of the fire-
fighter's glove 20. Thus, the protective shield 30
covers any space which occurs between the firefighter's
sleeve 26 and the firefighter's glove 20,
When the firefighter who wears the firefighter's
coat 24 is engaged in firefighting activity the fire
Docket 740 CA 02060146 2002-09-16
I
-6-
fighter's hand, covered by the glove 20, may extend
directly from the sleeve 26 in a substantially straight
line, as shown in FIG. 4. However, during firefighting
activity, the firefighter's hand, covered bay the fire-
s fighter's glove 20, may frequently extend angularly
downwardly from the sleeve 26, as shown in FIG. 5.
Therefore, for best protection of the firefighter's
glove 20 the protective shield 30 is positioned at the
upper portion of the sleeve 26. When the protective
shield 30 is so positioned at the upper portion of the
sleeve 26, the protective shield 30 does not interfere
with downward angular movement of the firefighter's hand
which is covered by the firefighter's glove 20, as il-
lustrated in FIG. 5. Furthermore, the protective shield
30 has a degree of flexibility which permits upward
angular movement of the firefighter's hand which is
covered by the glove 20.
The preferred method of attachment of the
shield 30 to the sleeve 26 is by means of hook and pile
material. FIG. 8 shows a strip 40 of hook and pile
material secured to the shield 30. This via_w also shows
a complementary strip 44 of hook and pile material se-
cured to the inner surface of the sleeve 26. Preferably,
the strip 44 of hook arid pile material extends around
a portion of the sleeve 26 which is slightly greater
than one-half the circumference of the sleeve 26. Pref-
erably, the strip 40 of haok and pile material extends
substantially the length L of the shield 30.
The hook and pile means of attachment of the
shield 30 to the sleeve 26, which includes the hook and
pile strips 40 and 44, makes possible quick attachment
of the protective shield 30 to the sleeve 2~6. Also,
the hook and pile means of attachment also makes possible
adjustment of the attachment of the protective shield
30 to the sleeve 26. FTG. 6 shoc.~s the protective shield
30 attached to the sleeve 26 at the upper portion of
Docket 7406
-7-
the sleeve 26, with substantially equal portions of the
protective shield 30 at each side of the center of the
sleeve 26. FIG. 7 shows the protective shield 30 attach-
ed to the sleeve 26 with a greater portion of the pro-
s t ective shield 30 at one side of the center of the sleeve
26. Z'hus, the protective shield 30 can be attached to
the sleeve 26 as desired by the firefighter who wears
the coat 24.
If desired, instead of the hook and pile mate-
0 rial 40 and 44, the protective shield 30 may be adjustably
and removably attached to the sleeve 26 by means of
snap devices or the like, or by any other suitable means.
Due to the fact that a protective shield of
this invention is removable, if damage should occur to
75 a protective shield during firefighting activity, the
protective shield can be readily replaced by another
protective shield.
Also, due to the fact that a protective shield
of this invention is removable, if for any reason, a
20 protective shield of a given size or shape or physical
characteristics is not best for its intended use, the
protective shield can be replaced by another protective
shield which has different physical characteristics.
Also, if desired, a protective shield of this
25 invention may be permanently attached to a sleeve of
a firefighter's coat or a protective shield of this
invention may be an integral part of the sleeve 26.
Although the preferred embodiment of the fire
fighter's protective shield of this invention has been
30 described, it will be understand that within the purview
of this invention various changes may be made in the
form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts the
combination thereof, and the mode of use, which generally
stated consist in a firefighter's protective shield within
35 the scope of the appended claims.
